When Ashley Boos was a student at Quarryville Elementary in the 90s, her mother, Michelle Evans, operated the school's Holiday Shoppe. Now it's Boos who runs the annual event which gives every student an opportunity to do their Christmas shopping.

By November 1, property owners still owed the Solanco School District nearly $3 million in taxes for the current fiscal year. That's about average, district business manager Sandra Tucker said last week.

A free resource is available for Solanco School District students and their families who are seeking gently worn clothing and shoes. Five district schools have a Swappe Shoppe in their building where families can shop for clothes and shoes donated by members of the community.

A summer reading assignment led to kindness projects at Smith Middle School. The school's current seventh graders were told to read Wonder by R.J. Palacio. The book is written for middle school students and is about a child born with an abnormality that disfigured his face. It tells the story of 10-year-old August Pullman who is making the transition to middle school and how he is accepted by the other students.

Organizers didn't know what to expect when they hosted Smith Middle School's first Fall Fest. That was two years ago. Now they know what to offer and how many volunteers they will need to make it happen. They now know how important the celebration is.

Solanco has fewer students in grades one through eight than attend Amish schools in the district. On October 1, Solanco had 2,016 students in those grades. The Amish schools had 2,043 on that date. Solanco's overall enrollment is higher - 3,307 - because it offers kindergarten and grades nine through 12. The Amish schools only offer grades one through eight.

Later this month, drivers for buses serving Solanco School District students will participate in the state's annual Operation Safe Stop. The program is designed to increase motorists' awareness of the consequences of passing a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading students, said Solanco transportation coordinator Matt Kirchoff.

Last year, Solanco High School's concert band performed a number of composer Randall Standridge's creations. "The kids really fell in love with him right away," said music teacher and marching band director Scott Weyman, "and I became a fan of the composer." So when Weyman was looking for a program for this year's marching band, he looked at Standridge's shows. "He scores a lot for middle and high school bands," he said. "I started to go through the options he has written for a marching band. He writes more contemporary style marching band shows."

Earlier this month, Scott Long moved across the office, down the hall, and into his new job at Solanco High. He brings with him a vision for the school's future and plans to turn that vision into reality. "We need to do a better job with college and career readiness," he said. "We need to get kids ready for what they're going to do after high school. "College is not the be-all and end-all. We need to work with CTC [the county's vocational schools] as well as our own training here."

Solanco Neighborhood Ministries wants to help students pack up for school. But to do that, the nonprofit needs backpacks and other school supplies. "We're looking for backpacks for all ages," said community support specialist Hannah Linde.

The next art exhibit at the Quarryville Library will feature works by Solanco students. The show will open at the library, 357 Buck Rd., on June 29 and run through July 27. A reception for the artists will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on June 29.

Organizing Solanco High School's blood drives has become a tradition passed down from one small group of students to another. Rachel Johnson and Gabi Dolan planned the most recent drive, which was held in the chorus room on May 30.

Elementary-age kids and high school students share something in common. They all enjoy escaping the classroom for a day of fun, food, and friendship. They did just that Thursday, May 23, as Solanco High School hosted its 15th Ophelia Day, a celebration where students from Solanco School District elementary schools visited the high school and "buddy up" with high school students.

Everyone did not read every book. But six Solanco High School students did get through most of the 45 books listed for the first Intermediate Unit 13's Reading Olympics. In the process, they learned enough to tie for second place when teams from two counties competed last month.

Thanks to its Renaissance program, Solanco High School students are routinely recognized for outstanding academics, good attendance records, and exemplary behavior. On Friday night, May 10, students will have the opportunity to display different types of skills. The school is hosting a talent/variety show Friday night at 7. Doors open at 6:30. Admission is $5.

Solanco High School librarian Emily Dawley says students still love to read print books. That's why she started The Great Book Swap seven years ago and why it's still a popular program today. "Generally, reading books might be down a little but we still have a lot of kids who absolutely still love reading books," said Dawley. "Reading is still a priority for kids. There are still a lot of kids who prefer print books."

Quarryville Elementary School students and teachers stretched Read Across America Day into a full week of activities. Each day last week had a theme from the books of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.

​ A 2011 Solanco graduate has returned to her alma mater to teach a subject she learned to love in high school. Mallory Rutledge will be teaching Spanish this school year. "Spanish challenges me," she said last week, "and I always enjoy that. It says a lot about the teachers here that they inspired me to go on with this language."